Doctors - What is the 'particular sickness' that Ben Saarel has had but refuses to name?

Bilharzia. Look it up.

I wish I had it. It makes you faster.

Not a MD, but Epstein-Barr (mononucleosis) comes to mind. Totally speculative.

Mono, perhaps

honestly sounds like mono, has all the same side effects

mono...or CMV

Sounds like hantavirus. Probably tangled with some rodents on a run in the hills.

He was anemic for any one of a number of reasons.

Many/most diagnoses of "mono" are labels for anemia of unexplained origin. Doctors want to seem as though they have "the answer" (otherwise, why are you paying them?) and a diagnosis of mono (or Epstein Barr) is more satisfying than saying: "you're anemic but I have no idea why."

Based on personal experience.

I assumed mono, but if that was it I didn't understand why he wouldn't just come out and say it. Besides being known as the "kissing disease", are there other negative connotations that go along with mono I'm unaware of?

Ya'll got the Lyme out there them?

Sounds like mono, kinda weird they wouldn't just come out and say that though. Maybe it's just Wetmore being Wetmore, or maybe it was something weirder?

Saarel seems like a guy who self-sabotages a lot. Stays up late doing work, doesn't recover properly, gets sick a ton.

After how well his freshman year went, I think it's fair to say that his progression since then has been just a little disappointing. I know, super harsh for a guy with 2 top 10 finishes at cross nationals, but he hasn't quite hit that next level a lot of us thought he would.

If he got sick "early in the season," as stated here, then it definitely could not be Mono, because he would have been in no shape to finish 21st in a race no way no how.

Definitely Mono

When I was coaching, a couple of guys in college would get mono every year. It was amazing how the way it impacted them varied. A couple of times guys ran ok - we didn't even know they had mono until the end of the season. Like instead of running 14:15, they'd run 14:40 and it was like, "What's going on here?" Other times it would wipe them out totally, like they couldn't get out of bed.

I do think if he had mono mid-season another top 10 finish at NCAAs would be the equivalent of Joanie winning the '84 trials weeks after knee surgery. TOTALLY totally unexpected. A miracle. Standard was 3-6 months. Some never really came back.

Low iron seems more likely to me. Sometimes guys came back from that within a month. I had a guy who couldn't break 14:50 indoors and he ran 14:04 outdoors once he started popping iron.

Yes super harsh. Two top 10s is VERY good. But his track results have been nowhere near as good as his xc.

Low ferritin levels.

You come back from mono quickly. Low ferritin takes months

What a wimp. "I'm not used to the competition." Really? Geez.

Ben Saarel is extremely smart. he is an engineering major and a top tier D! athlete which is hard enough to manage time wise but he knows that he isnt going to be going pro in running so school should be his focus and as a result he gets sick frequently. My bet is Mono but again not sure why CU is keeping it a mystery.

All speculation:

The mono I've seen with the boys wouldn't allow him to run at all this school year. Maybe there's a different type- but I doubt he'd have contracted mono in sept and be running nationals in Nov.

The timeline works for an iron deficiency- especially if he had an IV.

With him being unwilling to disclose it, I'd guess two more likely scenarios--

Could be mental, he is a very good student with a double major who runs 85 miles a week. Depression isn't out of the realm of possibilities.

And of course- the ever present thyroid disorder could be playing into things-- thus his unwillingness to disclose it.

Hope he's right in Louisville. Huge fan.

Testicular Elephantitis!

Serious stuff - you gotta watch the knock and rock'in; could put you out for a while.

I vote for low iron.